Has anyone brought a buried pet back to the UK?

[woollyjumperseason]

Hi bit of a sensitive subject. Our cat died last year and we buried her at our home in France. Unknown to us at the time we have had to move back to the UK. We are now looking at how to bring her to be buried in our new home. Has anyone done this before. It might be easier to cremate her but not sure if that's possible as she has been buried for a year or so.
Thanks in advance

Shades of Pet Semetary

I think this is far too complex to consider op.
There is the obvious issue of decomposition…

In your shoes I would plant a nice small shrub on the grave of cat. I would then bring the shrub back in a pot (discreetly) and transfer that to new garden.

I would then adopt another cat in the UK or maybe even two or three or four; seeing as you are clearly a wonderfully loving owner.

When my first dog died, he was a rescue and I realised the only thing they leave behind is a hole in your heart… best thing to do imo is to use that space to save another in their place.
It’s the continuation of love for me and I know that each of my dogs has helped the next one come into your lives and finally have a safe and loving family for the rest of their lives. Whatever you do, Make sure you get another cat. xo

This place is bonkers sometimes

Do the rules not have anything about how the pet was buried and/or the state of the body? I did try to do a Google search but only find information about ashes.

Contact a pet crematorium in France for advice. Ashes would be much easier to transport and store until you are ready to rebury. I would not advise doing the exhumation yourself because I think it would be distressing.

My concern for you op is how upsetting it will be to exhume your cat, if there’s a local pet crematorium you could try to arrange that as transport then is easy, you can then scatter the ashes or bury in a place where you won’t move from eg we buried dogs ashes in his favourite park and sponsored a bench, it’s possible to have them listed on the pier here too then pour over the side

Sadly I think it will be almost impossible to do after so long. Could you take a tiny amount of soil from the garden and plant a rose in a pot once you are in your new home?

Yes, love multiplies, it doesn't divide. We never replace the beloved furry family members (I absolutely see them as family) we lost, our hearts just expand to accommodate more love, as we welcome more furries to our families 🐶😻
It's another way our deceased dogs, cats and others live on too - it's a kind of ever-expanding love relay... 🐾❤️

Please stop suggesting that OP transports soil or plants.

Plants for planting are classed by DEFRA as "high risk" and the OP would have to obtain a phytosanitary certificate prior to moving.

I can find no guidance concerning soil aimed at private citizens, probably because no one in govt considered that anyone would ever want to transport topsoil other than for commercial or scientific purposes. Moving soil around is not without risks to British flora and fauna.

OP's best option, if she cannot bear to leave her cat's remains, is exhumation and cremation to bring the sterilised ground bones home.

@woollyjumperseason I will not judge you for bringing her ground bones home. I have recently said the final goodbye to CatOfHate and I cannot comprehend leaving his remains behind if I ever move house.

Well, there is an option (not just in OP's case, but generally) of getting a phytosanitary certificate, as stated in your post. So, it's not outlandish for posters to suggest getting a plant cutting. It honestly wouldn't have occurred to me that it'd be an issue (unless an invasive plant, that could harm indigenous flora) until I read your posts. I don't think it would occur to many people, as people move house, and transport house plants & garden cuttings all the time.
Re not being able to leave your cat's mortal remains behind if you ever moved - it's a personal thing, but I couldn't possibly exhume a beloved animal. No way. It would seem so disrespectful. But, I'd have to have some kind of little memorial if I moved. So, for me, the effort of applying for a certificate to transport a cutting from a significant plant would be well worth it. So, I don't think it's wrong at all for people to suggest that. I guess it's one of those things that's very personal, as with all grieving.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved cat 🐾💐

People weren't suggesting going through all the admin, I suspect because they didn't realise it was needed.

I don't want OP to have her cutting seized and destroyed.

Ah, I see. Fair enough. Those are fair points.
Yes, it'd be devastating if you tried to bring a cutting over to propagate and plant as a memorial, only to have it taken away. So, it's good to be aware of needed preparations.